New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-29

Massachusetts,, Maine New-Jersey, Virginia, Cali
fornia, New Hampshire Vermont, Maryland, In
diana, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado. Kansas. Michi-
gan. Minnesota, Delaware. West Virginia and six
teen Southern States and Western Territories.
The Kansas column was of the strongest In
numbers the men marching with an air betoken-
ing indifference to weather and frequently singing
as they passed
All the departments started with platoons of
twelve, but before the route was covered the files
had become broken and irregular the
marching throughout being very fast and the
halts few in number There battle fl lgs
IN nearly every file. Veterans indeed were these
soldiers who marched under the torn and faded
colOrs
TIME TELLING ON THE VETERANS
The twenty-five years which have passed since
the great review on Pennsylvania ave. have made
middle aged and even old men of the Union SOL
dIers large proportion of the veterans now have
gray hairs to show in proof of active service gen.
Grafton ago. Their faces are scanned and time
worn, and an air of WEAKNESS and a sober and
sedate mien are seen IN the place OF the
other days. The veterans are rapidly aging,
and they are beginning to count the
cost of the annual parade in rheumatic twinges and
neuralgia pains, and some OF them 10 wonder
whether 1t would not be wiser for them to drop out
Of the files altogether and allow the younger men
Yet they are soldiers still, and when drums and
tes heard they tall line and trv TO forget
that their battles we're fought quarter OF a cen
tury ago. Time has left it's imprint Inetlaceably
upon their faces. but the military bearing, the
erect carriage and the soldierly stride wero not
wanting. These were the men who had fought
with the Armies of Tennessee. the Cumberland.
and the Potomac, and to whose valor
and countless sacrifices tue country
its These ss0s were sd the the
charge and they deserved even IN their for
lorn march Though the ran under the most dismal
OF Skies the homage and respect OF the vast throug
of sght-seers. But these heroes insisted upon
the privileges of long service as veterans and while
they were willing to march in the RAIN they had
some little regard for their health. Manv OF them
wore waterproof coats yellow or black, outside
their uniforms. and, if the truth must be told: a
great many carried umbrellas over their heads
There were thousands of fair faces in the windows
of the hotels and the business blocks. the only
CLEANS Of brightness TO be deserted under the dlngy
sky The platoons would have had more martial
aspect if ihe umbrellas had been sheathed and the
waterproofs strapped TO the back, but the
veterans considered prudence the better part OF
valor, so onward they went, each IN his own
way, through the driving RAIN, exclt-
ing sometimes smile by Their
| grotesque appearance, but invariably hearty anc
slgntseers who blocked the sidewalks and lined
the windows in Broadway, Fourth and Olive sts II,
There were about IL 600 men who marched all
the way to the triumphal arch There would nn.
doubtedly have been $4,000 IN line If the weather
had not been inciement The parade was admlra-
bly, conducted in spite of the rain. aud notwith-
standing all drawb ,cks was an imposing display. =,
General FairchiId was enthusiastically received
when he reached the reviewing stand. and
General Sherman also had most enthusiastic vel.
come. In the other seats reserved tor distinguished
visitors were Hannibal Hamlin, General Pope and
most of the War Governors The War Governors
subsequently, unched with General Frost aud we're
entertained at dinner by the Mayor. They also at
tended an evening reception given by General John
w. Noble in honor of Chief Justice Miller:
Hundreds Of receptiors, reunions and annual
gatherings were held during the afternoon ana
evening by survivors of regiments and brgades,
and the hotels resounded until late hour with
music. war songs and rOllicking gayety.